WHITE PLAINS—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) announced today that it received an award for a joint project with the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) for the installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems at eight municipal facilities in the city. NYPA, jointly with DCAS, received the Renewable Project of the Year Award from the New York Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers at the annual dinner of the association last month in New York City.

The U.S. Department of Energy provided federal stimulus funding for the project under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) administers ARRA funds for New York to support energy efficiency, and renewable energy programs and initiatives.

The $3.5 million PV installation, completed in 2012, accounts for a total of approximately 350 kilowatts (kW) of generating capacity.

“The Power Authority is pleased and proud to receive this recognition from the Association of Energy Engineers for the collaboration with New York City to significantly expand—by threefold—renewable solar power installations at city facilities,” said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and chief executive officer. “Projects such as this support the ambitious goal of Governor Cuomo’s NY-Sun initiative to quadruple New York’s solar energy installations between 2011 and 2013.”

The Power Authority spearheaded the design, fabrication, installation and start-up of the new PV systems at locations in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. The eight installations are at city facilities operated by the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), and the Fire (FDNY) and Police (NYPD) Departments of the City of New York. Together, they triple the number of PV systems at the city’s municipal facilities.

“We are honored to share the award for best Renewable Energy Project of 2013. This project was a true citywide effort and a testament to world-class teamwork. We applaud the extraordinary efforts of the solar host agencies – Police, Fire, Sanitation, and Transportation – and recognize the support of our other governmental partners at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Department of Buildings and Fire Department,” said Edna Wells Handy, commissioner, New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services. “I’d also like to thank members of DCAS’ Energy Management team, Emily Dean, Emily Small, and the recently retired Richard Applebaum, who each played an integral role in this project. Finally, we commend the exemplary project management of the New York Power Authority for helping us complete these projects in record time.”

The new PV units offset approximately 152 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually and have produced more than 500,000 kilowatt hours since being placed into service last year.

“Congratulations to NYPA and DCAS on this recognition of their collaborative efforts to provide more renewable energy to New York City agencies through the use of solar PV systems,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., president and chief executive officer, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. “The Recovery Act funding along with funding available through Governor Cuomo’s NY-Sun initiative is assisting New York’s solar industry in making solar power an affordable option for consumers who want to reduce their energy costs and their carbon footprint. The efforts undertaken by these agencies complement the statewide NY-Sun efforts underway whereby more solar PV has been installed or is under development than was installed in the entire prior decade.”

The locations of the new PV units, and the generating capacity of the equipment, are as follows:

Governor Cuomo’s NY-Sun Initiative brings together and expands existing programs administered by NYSERDA, NYPA and the Long Island Power Authority, to ensure a coordinated and well-funded effort to expand solar power in the state. For more information about NY-Sun, visit http://ny-sun.ny.gov/.

About NYPA:

The New York Power Authority uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. ■ NYPA has been designated as the lead entity via Executive Order 88 by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to form a central management and implementation plan to carry out his Build Smart NY plan to reduce energy use by state facilities by 20 percent by 2020. ■ NYPA is the nation's largest state public power organization, through the operation of its 16 generating facilities in various parts of New York State, participation in a unique public/private partnership to contract for power from a clean generating plant in Queens, and its operation of more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. ■ More than 70 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. Its lower-cost power production and electricity purchases support hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the state.■ For more information visit www.nypa.gov or follow @NYPAenergy on Twitter.